3rd Annual Honoring the Legends of FMA Tournament

In the San Diego Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) community, there’s nothing more important than fostering the teachings of our heritage, our traditions and diverse arts.

The following groups have come together to promote FMA and to honor the “Legends” that have paved the way for our systems to thrive. Siete Pares Eskrima-San Antonio, TX under Master Erik Buernaflor; Intrepid Arnis-Eskrima under Master Romeo De Los Reyes; Pulahan-Derobio Eskrima under Master Chaz Siangco and Inayan Martial Arts Association under Guro Norm Malonzo will be hosting the 3rd Annual “Honoring the Legends of FMA” Tournament to be held on MAy 18-19, 2024 at Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, CA.

These hosts are honoring their Legends of FMA! Great Grandmaster Braulio Pedoy and Batikan Eduardo Pedoy of Derobio Eskrima. Grandmaster Narrie Babao of Babao Arnis. Supreme Grandmaster Laberto B. Labitan of Siete Pares Eskrima and Mangisursuro Mike Inay of Inayan Martial Arts Association.

When registering, please choose your main event as a primary ticket. Any additional event you plan to compete; please register that event as "Division as an Additional Event".

Early Bird Registration Active from 02/01/2024 to 03/01/2024 Cost: $50

Pre-Registration Active from 03/02/2024 to 05/12/2024 Cost: $55

General Admission Registration Active week of Event 05/13/2023 to 05/18-19/2023 Cost: $60

Division as an Additional Event Cost: $10

Spectator Fee - Ages 6 and Up Cost: $5

Tournament Divisions:

Youth - Single Stick - 5 to 7 yrs old

Youth - Single Stick - 8 to 10 yrs old

Youth - Single Stick - 11 to 13 yrs old

Youth - Single Stick - 14 to 17 yrs old

Women’s – Single Stick – Flyweight < 125lbs

Women's - Single Stick - Featherweight - 126-150lbs

Women's - Single Stick - Bantamweight - >150lbs

Women's - Double Stick - Flyweight < 125lbs

Women's - Double Stick - Featherweight 126 - 150lb

Women's - Double Stick - Bantamweight > 150lbs

Women's - Knife - Flyweight < 125lbs

Women's - Knife - Featherweight 126 - 150lbs

Women's - Knife - Bantamweight >150lbs

Men’s – Single Stick – Lightweight < 150lbs

Men’s – Single Stick – Middleweight – 151 – 175lbs

Men’s – Single Stick – Light Heavy – 176 – 209lbs

Men’s – Single Stick – Heavyweight > 210lbs

Men’s – Double Stick – Lightweight < 150lbs

Men’s – Double Stick – Middleweight – 151 – 175lbs

Men’s – Double Stick – Light Heavy – 176 – 209lbs

Men’s – Double Stick – Heavyweight > 210lbs

Men’s – Knife – Lightweight < 150lbs

Men’s – Knife – Middleweight – 151 – 175lbs

Men’s – Knife – Light Heavy – 176 – 209lbs

Men’s – Knife – Heavyweight > 210lbs

NEW VETERAN'S DIVISION AGES 45+

Veteran Women’s – Single Stick – Flyweight < 125lbs

Veteran Women's - Single Stick - Featherweight - 126-150lbs

Veteran Women's - Single Stick - Bantamweight - >150lbs

Veteran Women's - Double Stick - Flyweight < 125lbs

Veteran Women's - Double Stick - Featherweight 126 - 150lb

Veteran Women's - Double Stick - Bantamweight > 150lbs

Veteran Women's - Knife - Flyweight < 125lbs

Veteran Women's - Knife - Featherweight 126 - 150lbs

Veteran Women's - Knife - Bantamweight >150lbs

Veteran Men’s – Single Stick – Lightweight < 150lbs

Veteran Men’s – Single Stick – Middleweight – 151 – 175lbs

Veteran Men’s – Single Stick – Light Heavy – 176 – 209lbs

Veteran Men’s – Single Stick – Heavyweight > 210lbs

Veteran Men’s – Double Stick – Lightweight < 150lbs

Veteran Men’s – Double Stick – Middleweight – 151 – 175lbs

Veteran Men’s – Double Stick – Light Heavy – 176 – 209lbs

Veteran Men’s – Double Stick – Heavyweight > 210lbs

Veteran Men’s – Knife – Lightweight < 150lbs

Veteran Men’s – Knife – Middleweight – 151 – 175lbs

Veteran Men’s – Knife – Light Heavy – 176 – 209lbs

Veteran Men’s – Knife – Heavyweight > 210lbs

Also added this year, SAYAW / KATA / FORMS Division !!! All AGES!!! HOSTED By Grandmaster Steve Del Castillo and Founder of Bunal Brand FMA Equipment.

GROUP 1 KIDS - 10 and UNDER

GROUP 2 YOUTH - 11 to 14

GROUP 3 TEENS - 15 to 17

GROUP 4 YOUNG ADULTS- 18 to 24

GROUP 5 ADULTS - 25 to 34

GROUP 6 VETERANS - 35+

I   The Ring: measures approximately 20’x20’.

II The Ring Officials: (1) Referee and (3) Judges, (1) Timer and (1) Score Keeper.

III To Win:

A. Points

B.  Disqualification

C. Surrender

D. Referee Stoppage

IV Weapons Allowed:

A. Padded Single or Double Sticks 28” long.

V Time Limit:

A. Three (3) continuous minutes per match. [Two (2) continuous minutes for Youth matches]. When the time has ended, the timekeeper will yell “TIME”! The timekeeper well also throw a taped rolled up towel into the ring so the fighters and center Ref can see the match is over.

B. If the “Clock” needs to be stopped during the match for a safety concern or a judging issue, the center Referee will be the one to stop the match by yelling “Time Out”! The Referee will make sure that the timer visually acknowledges the “Time Out” command.

C. To continue the match, the referee will then yell “Continue” or Blow a whistle. The timekeeper will then start the clock.

D. A referee’s command to “Break” or Blowing of the whistle to have the fighters to stop fighting. This is so points can be collected from the Ring Judges. The time does not stop while collecting point UNLESS there is a Point issue.

E. A Ring Judge can ONLY stop to fight in the event they see a safety issue

VI Scoring of the Points:

A. The fighters will be separated, when the referee has seen a total of (3) strikes from the fighters. (3 Strikes TOTAL, NOT 3 Strikes from each Fighter) The referee will ask the judges to score the Hits. The referee will ALWAYS call the points in this order to the Ring Judges, no matter where the fighter was struck:

Hit to the Legs

Hit to the Body

Hit to the Arms (includes the weapon hand)

Hit to the Head

B. If the 1st or 2nd strike is to the fighter’s head the referee will separate the fighters so the judges can score the strikes.

C. To verify a point, the judges will raise either a blue or red stick.

D. None of the judges will be able to initiate the point called.

E. For one point the scorekeeper will write “1”. For two points the scorekeeper will write “2”.   Head – 2 Points Weapon Hand, Torso, Legs and Arms – 1 Point

F. If the fighter had scored multiple hits to the same target (except the head) before the whistle is blown, the Judges should count each of those hits as points. Example: When the Center Ref calls, hit to the ARM and the Judges saw 2 Hits to RED’s Arm, the Judges will Raise their BLUE Stick and TWO fingers indicating 2 points for the ARM. Two out of the Three Judges must agree for the 2 points to stand. If only One of the Judges calls 2 points to the Arm and the Second Judge calls 1 point to the Arm, the Fighter will just get 1 point.

If at the end of the three minutes and the score is tie, the fighters will fight for an additional (30) seconds. The fighter with the most points at the end of the additional (30) seconds round will be the winner.

VII Illegal Targets:           

A. Back of the head.

B.  Back of the Trunk.

C. Groin

VIII Illegal Techniques:

A. Thrust to the face or throat if the tip of the stick touches the competitor’s face shield or throat area. (Thrust to the body is alright)

B.     Finger thrust to the face.

C.     Butt strike to the head.

D.     Any elbow break technique.

E.      Any grappling or wrestling hold.

F.      Any takedowns.

G.     Grabbing the middle, tip, or trapping of the opponent’s weapon and/ or weapon hand. H. Kicking or Punching

F. No Disarms

IX Losing Control of Your Stick:

A.     The match will continue if one of the fighters has lost their stick the match will not be stopped until the following has occurred:1. The unarmed fighter must defend himself by tying up their opponent. (No takedown or Arm breaking Techniques) OR 2. If a Point has been scored be the Armed opponentB. If the fighter has lost their stick (3) times in the same match, they will be automatically disqualified.1st Disarm – Warning 2nd Disarm is a loss of 1 point 3rd Disarm is a Disqualification

X  Clashes:

A. Simultaneous attacks to the same target area (Same time) (Example: Simultaneous stick hits to the head)

B. If a fighter strikes an opponent’s head and then gets immediately gets struck in the head in return, the 1st fighter to hit the head will get the point. The 2nd strike to the head from the opposite opponent will not count.

XI Disqualification: The referee has the option of given a warning or disqualifying a fighter based on the following:

A.     Disrespect to the Referees. Judges or Tournament Official

B.     Any unsportsmanlike conduct.

C.     Any violation of the illegal techniques and illegal targets.

D. Loses Control of their Stick 3 times in the same match

XII Surrender:

A. When a fighter shows sign of surrender. To signify, the fighter will drop their Stick(s) to the floor and hold both open hands overhead. The referee will immediately declare the other fighter as the winner.

RULES DEVELOPED BYERIK C. BUENAFLOR, MASTER, SIETE PARES ESCRIMA 777

I   The Ring: measures approximately 20’x20’.

II The Ring Officials: (1) Referee and (3) Judges, Timer and the Score Keeper.

III To Win:

A. Point

B. Disqualification

C. Surrender

D. Referee Stoppage

IV Weapons Allowed:

A. Padded Single Knife or Double Knives

V Time Limit:

A. Three (3) continuous minutes per match. When the time has ended, the timekeeper will yell “TIME”! The timekeeper well also throw a taped rolled up towel into the ring so the fighters and center Ref can see the match is over.

B. If the “Clock” needs to be stopped during the match for a safety issue or judging issues, thecenter Referee will be the one to stop the match by yelling “Time Out”! The Referee will make sure that the timer visually acknowledges the “Time Out” command.

C. To continue the match, the referee will then yell “Continue” or Blow a whistle. Thetimekeeper will then start the clock.

D.     A referee’s command to “Break” or Blowing of the whistle to have the fighters to stop fighting.This is so points can be collected from the Ring Judges. The time does not stop while collecting point UNLESS there is a Point issue.

E. A Ring Judge can ONLY stop to fight in the event they see a safety issues

VI Scoring of the Points:

A. The fighters will be separated, when the Referee has seen a total of (3) or (4) Cuts for the fighters. The referee will ask the Judges to score the Cuts. The Referee will ALWAYS call the cuts in this order no matter what Cuts occurred during the fight.

Cut to the Leg

Cut to the Body

Cut to the Arm

Cut to the Head

B. If the 1st or 2nd cut is to the fighter’s NECK / HEAD the referee will separate the fighters so the judges can score the cut.

C. To verify a point, the judges will raise either a blue or red stick. The Judges will indicate if the Cut is 1 or 2 points with their fingers and blue or red stick.

D. None of the judges will be able initiate a point call.

E. For one point, the scorekeeper will write “1”. For two points the scorekeeper will write “2”.   Neck and Head – 2 Points Weapon Hand, Upper Torso, Stomach, Legs and Arms / Hands –

1 Point If at the end of the four minutes and the score is tie, the fighters will fight for an additional (30)seconds. The fighter with the most points at the end of the additional (30) seconds round will be the winner.

F. If a fighter is cut 2 times on their weapon Hand or Arm, they must switch weapon hands. If their second weapon hand is cut 2 times, they are Disqualified.

VII Illegal Targets:           

A.     Back of the head.

B.     Back of the Trunk.

C.     Groin

VIII Illegal Techniques:

A.     Weapon thrust to the face (Thrust to the body is alright)

B.     Finger thrust to the face.

C.     Butt strike to the head.

D.     Any elbow break technique.

E.     Any grappling or wrestling hold.

F.      Any takedowns.

G.     Grabbing the middle, tip or trapping of the opponent’s weapon.

H. Kicking or Punching

IX Disarming:

A.     The match is continues even if one of the fighters has been disarmed the match will not be stopped until to following has occurred:

1. The disarmed fighter defends himself by tying up their opponent. (No takedown)

OR

2. If a Point has been scored be the Armed opponent

B. If the fighter has been disarmed (3) times in the same match, they will be automatically disqualified.

1st Disarm – Warning

2nd Disarm is a loss of 1 point

3rd Disarm is a Disqualification

X  Clashes:

A.     Simultaneous attacks to the same target area. (Example: Simultaneous knife Cuts to the head)

B. If a fighter strikes an opponent’s head and then gets immediately gets struck in the head in return, the 1st fighter to hit the head will get the point. The 2nd strike to the head from the opposite opponent will not count.

XI Disqualification:

The Referee has the option of given a warning or disqualifying a fighter based on the following:

A.     Disrespect to the Referee or Judges.

B.     Any unsportsmanlike conduct.

C.     Any violation of the illegal techniques and illegal targets.

D. If a fighter is cut 2 times on their weapon Hand or Arm, they must switch weapon hands. If their second weapon hand is cut 2 times, they are Disqualified.

XII Surrender:

A. When a fighter shows sign of surrender. To signify, the fighter will drop the weapon (s) to the floor, and hold both open hands overhead. The Referee will immediately declare the other fighter as the winner.

Rules Developed by

Erik C. Buenaflor, Master Siete Pares Escrima 777

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Eastlake High School, 1120 Eastlake Parkway, Chula Vista, United States